IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 27, 12 July 1923, Page 43

IRISH NEWS

FREE STATE FILMS CENSORSHIP, On the motion of Mr. O’Higgins, Minister for Home Affairs, a second reading was given recently to the Censorship of Films Bill in Bail Eireann. The Bill provided for the appointment of one official censor, with an appeal to an honorary board of five censors. An appeal from the official censor would only apply at the instance of the film renter, who might consider himself aggrieved by reason of a particular picture being refused a certificate. No appeal lay on behalf of the public. All pictures exhibited in public would first have to pass the censor. With the exception of initial costs there would be no permanent charge on the public funds. All subsequent expenses would ho defrayed by fees imposed on the film renters. IRISH EMIGRATION SHOWS REDUCTION. Last year 21,100 emigrants left Ireland. This number contrasts with 44,396 in 1913, the last year before the war, and with 26,056 in 1921. do arrive at the effect of these figures on population statistics, return emigration or immigration should be taken into account. Former emigrants to the number of 5439 returned last year to resettle in Ireland. This was 1000 more than in 1921 and 511 less than in 1913. The net emigration last year was therefore 15,660, as compared with 38,556 in 1913 and 21,595 in 1921. Eighty-four per cent, of Irish emigrants sought their future in the United States. Only 13 per cent, went to the British Dominions. Two out of every three emigrants were between 20 and 30 years of age, and women outnumbered the male emigrants by 54 per cent. These statistics elate to emigration from Ireland to countries outside Europe. Emigration from Ireland to the Continent is negligible. Irish emigrants to Canada are mostly Protestants. Those going to the States are mainly Catholics. IRISH TEACHERS IN SCOTLAND. Mr. T. P. O’Connor, having inquired whether the. Solicitor-General for Scotland was aware that the Scottish Education Department are asking a number of Irish teachers in Scotland to resign, what was the reason for this step, seeing that they are fully qualified, and what compensation would be given to them if their years of training and service in Ireland are not taken into consideration in computing their salaries and pensions. Mr. F. C. Thomson writes, in reply, that in Scotland the appointment and dismissal of teachers rests with the education authority or other managers, and not with the Scottish Education Department. The Department’s duty was to satisfy themselves as to the adequacy of the staff provided. In this connection he was not aware that they had refused to accept any fully-trained Irish teacher who had taken the necessary steps to acquire a qualification under the Scottish regulations. But if the lion, member had knowledge of any particular cases he would be glad to institute inquiry on receiving the necessary particulars. THE PEIS CECIL: SIR RICHARD TERRY AND DISTINCTIVE QUALITY OF IRISH SINGERS. Sir Richard Terry, organist and conductor of the Catholic Cathedral, Westminster, who has been adjudicating at the recent Feis Cecil in Dublin, said undoubtedly there was a distinctive quality which distinguished Irish singers from others. That characteristic or distinction was particularly evident in the tenor voice. Irish tenors have a quality which cannot be mistaken. They have also the gift of singing in tune, but there is a great tendency to nasal singing. That seems to be a characteristic fault. I must say something about these tenors and sight reading. I was. greatly amused by the performances of the tenors when presented with the sight-reading test. They were

so nimble-witted. Many of them, obviously, knew nothing of sight reading, but they were not to be beaten, and started off boldly to sing, improvising notes which had no resemblance whatever to the test piece before them. Generally speaking, he said the difficulty with all the singers seemed to be their unwillingness to "grind." They are all desirous of getting to the top, but are reluctant to do the steady practice and grinding so necessary. They all want to become great singers at once. IN HONOR OF THE BEATIFICATION OF THE LITTLE FLOWER. A Dublin message under date May 24, says: Special ceremonies of thanksgiving in connection with the beatification of the Ven. Teresa of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, known throughout the world as "The Little Flower," were recently held in Dublin. These ceremonies gave fervent expression to the joy of members of the great Carmelite Order for the new glory which has come to it through the recent beatification of Ven. Teresa. They also gave solemn thanksgiving to God for this happy event. Special observances were conducted at the Carmelite Church on Clarendon Street, Great numbers of people came to the church for the devotions of the occasion, and the scene, was one long to be remembered. A painting of the Little Flower was exposed in a beautiful shrine, which was appropriately decorated for the occasion with roses and lights. During the day throngs of people came to kneel before it and to ask the prayers of the newly beatified. After Vespers in the evening a special sermon was preached by Rev. Father Malachy, 0.D.C., of Gayfield, Donnybrook, and then solemn Benediction was given by the Very Rev.erend Father Provincial. The "Te Dcum" was sung. Much interest has been created among Irish clients of the Little Flower by the announcement that the Carmelite Fathers intend to erect in their church a beautiful oratory in her honor. Some time ago architects' plans for this were obtained, and it is reported that the* work is to be carried on immediately. It is hoped that it will be completed m time for a Solemn Triduum to be held in this church about the end of September. THE WHITE CROSS. The work of the Irish White Cross needs no commendation to our people (says the Dublin Weekly Freeman). 1 hat work lives as a fragrant memory in the minds of this generation, one of the few gleams of light in a woefully black chapter of our history. But it is fitting that a permanent record should exist of a great and fruitful enterprise, and this has now been achieved by the "Report of the Irish White Cross," prepared for the Managing Committee of the organisation by Mr. W. J. Williams and issued in a handsome volume by Messrs. Martin Lester, Ine Report is a historic document, all the more impressive tor the restraint with which it presented, and for its insistence on plain facts instead of eloquent rhetoric. To students of Irish affairs it will be invaluable for the light it throws on the tragedy of the error, but it will be cherished by the nation as a whole as an example and an inspiration. The White Cross Society is a standing proof of the fact that, deep as are the hues of social, political, and religious cleavage in Ireland, they do not prevent co-operation between men and women of good-will for national purposes. Its members who were representative of practically every political and religious section "devoted themselves to the, humanitarian work " as the Report puts it, "unhampered by their private views thev d-ff SSl, l fi :I ?n C ° nflict - AS Private citizens they differed fundamentally on that issue; in their cor porate capacity their sole function was to work for the relief of their suffering fellow-countrymen."